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Deplorable!

Legislative Solutions Under Consideration in 2019

LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES: In the chaos of current Washington, there is little to like and much to fear. But babies and bathwater being different, CCAG notes that the President said he wants to reign in drug prices. This could be a year of opportunity. In 2017, CCAG’s focus will be on market transparency and price limitations for expensive drugs. The transparency approach emphasizes putting hard-to-find price information into the hands of regulators, the public, or both. (Easy price comparison is the engine of market competition, and it is in short supply thanks to the Big Pharma lobby.) On the other hand, price controls can include outright setting of upper limits, or merely the triggering of cost transparency in the face of a rising prices. Roughly 40 states are working on bills in these areas. CCAG will be making this push as the best path forward in CT.

PROTECT EXISTING HEALTHCARE ACCESS FROM ATTACK: CCAG raised the issues that led to the blocking of anti-competitive mergers in the insurance industry (Anthem- CIGNA, Humana-Aetna). Good, but this drama may not be over. Meanwhile, HUSKY A is under attack at the Legislature. The proposed budget would separate approximately 9500 low-income parents from their healthcare. Past cuts (2 years ago about 16,000 were cut) indicate that many eligible children also lose coverage due to confusion.